Leeds coach Brian McClennan is facing a growing crisis after his side were blown away by three first half tries.

The defending champions suffered their eighth defeat of a miserable season as Hull KR completed a home and away league double over them for the first time in 25 years.

And McClennan was left blaming injuries for the latest setback after they had seemed to have put their campaign back on course with back-to-back wins over Warrington and St Helens.

Under pressure: Brian McClennan

He said: 'We've had injuries. It's a lonely place for players coming back from injury. We got Rob Burrow but it will take him time. We just have to look at the 80 minutes and hold up our hands and say that Hull KR were better than us.

‘They stunned us and took some gas out of us. It's like a boxer putting his gloves down and saying: "Take a few shots at me." It's hard getting back off the ropes.'

This inconsistency suggests that this will finally be the year - after three consecutive Leeds title wins - when the Super League crown is pulled away from Headingley.

Leeds gave away too many soft penalties, surrendering possession cheaply, and were punished.

Rovers coach Justin Morgan recently made the bold prediction that his side could make the top four again this season, and his team backed up that confidence with a powerful performance. Their relentless kick and chase, forcing six goal-line dropouts, put Leeds under the sort of pressure that they could not handle.

Stop me if you can: Kirk Netherton powers through the Leeds defence

Leeds were frustrated as early as the sixth minute, when Danny McGuire had a try ruled out for double movement. Rovers took advantage from their next set when second-rower Ben Galea burst through for a try, converted by Michael Dobson.

Burrow plays down fears

Leeds scrum-half Rob Burrow has played down the knee injury that forced him out of last night's defeat to Hull KR.

Making his first start since May 1 due to another knee injury, Burrow limped out of the action towards the end of the Rhinos' 25-6 loss.

But he is expecting to be fit face Huddersfield on Friday, insisting: 'I jarred the knee and it was painful at the time."We decided to be cautious with it just to make sure. I will take care of it over the weekend and I am pretty confident it will be OK.'

Rovers went 12-0 ahead in the 20th minute when Ben Fisher scored with a simple finish following Liam Watts's well-timed offload. And it was 18-0 shortly before the break as winger Peter Fox showed his pace by striding 60 metres to score after picking up a loose ball.

Leeds received a 51st-minute lifeline. Rob Burrow, back after two months with a knee injury, kicked to the corner, and Ryan Hall pounced. Scott Murrell failed with a drop goal attempt, but his half-back partner Dobson succeeded with one.

The 13-point gap looked insurmountable, and the game was sealed late on when Dobson's kick supplied Ben Cockayne, who slid over in the corner.

'That was our best 80 minutes this season,' said Morgan. 'We've stoked the fires ahead of the derby against Hull on Thursday. A double over Leeds is a huge accolade.'